Roger II, from Liber ad honorem Augusti of Petrus de Ebulo, 1196.

Roger II (1093 – February 26, 1154) was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia (1127), then King of Sicily (1130). Roger II's main distinction was to have united all the Norman conquests into one kingdom and to have granted them a scientific, personal and centralized government. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (736x705, 314 KB) Roger II of Sicily From: from the Liber ad honorem Augusti of Petrus of Ebulo, 1196 File links The following pages link to this file: Roger II of Sicily ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (736x705, 314 KB) Roger II of Sicily From: from the Liber ad honorem Augusti of Petrus of Ebulo, 1196 File links The following pages link to this file: Roger II of Sicily ... // Events Donald III of Scotland comes to the throne of Scotland. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events King Stephen of England dies at Dover, and is succeeded by his adopted son Henry Plantagenet who becomes King Henry II of England, aged 21. ... Sicilian disambiguates here; see also Sicilian language or Sicilian Defence. ... Roger I (1031 – June 22, 1101), Norman ruler of Sicily, was the youngest son of Tancred of Hauteville. ... Simon of Hauteville, called Simon de Hauteville in French and Simone Daltavilla in Italian, was the eldest son and successor of Roger the Great Count, count of Sicily, and Adelaide del Vasto, under whose regency he reigned. ... The following is a list of monarchs of the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily: Hauteville Counts of Sicily, 1071-1130 Roger I 1071-1101 Simon 1101-1105 Roger II 1105-1130 Hauteville Kings of Sicily, 1130-1198 Roger II 1130-1154 William I 1154-1166 William II 1166-1189 Tancred... Events Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor deposed by his son, Henry V Tamna kingdom annexed by Korean Goryeo Dynasty. ... List of Counts of Apulia and Calabria in Southern Italy from the 11th century to the 12th century: Counts 1043-1059, Dukes 1059-1127 William I 1043-1049 Drogon 1049-1051 Umfred 1051-1057 Robert Guiscard 1057-1085 Roger 1085-1111 William II 1111-1127 Categories: Lists of office-holders... Events Conrad III establishes the Hohenstaufen dynasty when he is crowned antiking to the Holy Roman Emperor, Lothair II. First coalition of the Norman princes against Roger II of Sicily. ... The following is a list of monarchs of Naples and Sicily: See also: List of Counts of Apulia and Calabria Hauteville Counts of Sicily, 1071-1130 Roger I 1071-1101 Simon 1101-1105 Roger II 1105-1130 Hauteville Kings of Sicily, 1130-1198 Roger II 1130-1154 William I 1154... Events February 13 - Innocent II is elected pope An antipope schism occurs when Roger II of Sicily supports Anacletus II as pope instead of Innocent II. Innocent flees to France and Anacletus crowns Roger King. ... The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous people of France and the Viking invaders under the leadership of Hrolf Ganger, who adopted the French name Rollo and swore allegiance to the king of France (Charles the Simple). ...

Rise to power in southern Italy

When William, the duke of Apulia son of Roger Borsa and grandson of Robert Guiscard, died childless in June of 1127, Roger claimed all Hauteville possessions and the overlordship of Capua. However, the union of Sicily and Apulia was resisted by Honorius II and by the subjects of the duchy itself. At Capua (December 1127), the pope preached a crusade against Roger, setting Robert II of Capua and Ranulf of Alife (brother-in-law of Roger) against him. However this coalition failed, and in August 1128 Honorius invested Roger at Benevento as duke of Apulia. The baronial resistance, which was backed by Naples, Bari, Salerno and other cities whose aim was civic freedom gave way. In September of 1129 Roger was generally recognized as duke by Naples, Capua, and the rest. He began at once to enforce order in the Hauteville possessions, where the ducal power had long been fading. For the binding together of all his states the royal name seemed essential, and the death of Honorius in February 1130, followed by a double election, appeared the decisive moment. While Innocent II fled to France, Roger supported Anacletus II. The price was a crown, and on the 27th of September 1130 a bull of Anacletus made Roger king of Sicily. He was crowned in Palermo on the 25th of December 1130. Apulia (official Italian name: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Otranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. ... Roger Borsa (1060/1061–February 22, 1111) was the son and successor of Robert Guiscard, the Norman conqueror of Southern Italy and Sicily. ... Robert Guiscard (i. ... Events Conrad III establishes the Hohenstaufen dynasty when he is crowned antiking to the Holy Roman Emperor, Lothair II. First coalition of the Norman princes against Roger II of Sicily. ... Hauteville (French for higher town) is the name or part of the name of several places: In France Hauteville, a commune in the Ain département until 1942 when it became Hauteville-Lompnes when it amalgamated De Lompnes. ... Capua (modern Santa Maria Capua Vetere) was the chief ancient city of Campania, and one of the most important towns of ancient Italy, situated 25 km (16 mi) north of Neapolis, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. ... Sicilian disambiguates here; see also Sicilian language or Sicilian Defence. ... Pope Honorius II should not be confused with Antipope Honorius II, otherwise known as Peter Cadalus. ... This article is about the medieval crusades. ... Events Pope Honorius II recognizes and confirms the Order of the Knights Templar. ... Benevento is a town and archiepiscopal see of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 32 miles northeast of Naples. ... Naples panorama Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα Πόλις - Néa Pólis - meaning New City; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region and the Province of Naples. ... Region Apulia Mayor Michele Emiliano Area  116 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Density 316. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Naples panorama Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek Νέα Πόλις - Néa Pólis - meaning New City; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region and the Province of Naples. ... Innocent II, born Gregorio Papareschi (b. ... Anacletus II, born Pietro Pierloni, (died January 25, 1138) was an Antipope that ruled between 1131 to his death, in a schism against the contested hasty election of Pope Innocent II. Pietro was born in a powerful Roman family and, as second son, was destined to the church. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ... Events February 13 - Innocent II is elected pope An antipope schism occurs when Roger II of Sicily supports Anacletus II as pope instead of Innocent II. Innocent flees to France and Anacletus crowns Roger King. ... Nickname: Palermu Motto: Official website: http://www. ... December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 6 days remaining. ... Events February 13 - Innocent II is elected pope An antipope schism occurs when Roger II of Sicily supports Anacletus II as pope instead of Innocent II. Innocent flees to France and Anacletus crowns Roger King. ...

This plunged Roger into a ten-year war. Bernard of Clairvaux, Innocent's champion, built up a coalition against Anacletus and his "half heathen king". He was joined by Louis VI of France, Henry I of England and the emperor Lothar. Meanwhile South Italy revolted. The rebels defeated the king at Nocera on the 24th of July 1132. Nevertheless, by July 1134 his troops forced Ranulf, Duke Sergius VII of Naples, and the rebels to submit, while Roger was expelled from Capua. Meanwhile Lothar's contemplated attack upon Roger had gained the backing of Pisa, Genoa and the Greek emperor, each of whom feared the growth of a powerful Norman kingdom. In February 1137 Lothar began to move south and was joined by Ranulf and the rebels. In June he besieged and took Ban. At San Sevenino, after a victorious campaign, he and the pope jointly invested Ranulf as duke of Apulia (August 1137), and the emperor then retired to Germany. Roger, freed from the utmost danger, recovered ground, sacked Capua and forced Sergius to acknowledge him as overlord of Naples. At Rignano, Ranulf again defeated the king, but in April 1139 Ranulf died. Roger then subdued the last of the rebels. Bernard of Clairvaux, in a medieval illuminated manuscript Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (Fontaines, near Dijon, 1090 – August 21, 1153 in Clairvaux) was a French abbot and theologian who was the main voice of conservatism during the intellectual revival of Western Europe called the Renaissance of the 12th century. ... Louis VI the Fat (French: Louis VI le Gros) (December 1, 1081 – August 1, 1137) was king of France from 1108 to 1137. ... Henry I of England (c. ... The sole member of the house of Supplinburg to hold the titles, Lothar II (1075-1137) became duke of Saxony in 1106, king of Germany in 1125 and Holy Roman Emperor in 1133. ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... Events Diarmaid Mac Murrough has the abbey of Kildare in Ireland burned and the abbess raped. ... Events Baalbeck taken by Genghis Khan House of Brandenburg begins when Albrecht the Bear is made head of the Nordmark St. ... Pisa is a city in Tuscany, central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. ... Location within Italy Christopher Columbus monument in Piazza Aquaverde Genoa (Italian Genova, Genoese Zena, French Gênes, German Genua, Spanish Génova,Galician Xénova) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... Events Louis VII is crowned King of France. ...

"The Cappella Palatina, at Palermo, the most wonderful of Roger's churches, with Norman doors, Saracenic arches, Byzantine dome, and roof adorned with Arabic scripts, is perhaps the most striking product of the brilliant and mixed civilization over which the grandson of the Norman Trancred ruled" (EB1911).

After the death of Anacletus (January 1138) Roger decided to seek the confirmation of his title from Innocent. The pope, invading the kingdom with a large army, was skillfully ambushed at Galuccio (July 22, 1139). After the king's victory on the 25th July, the pope invested him as "Rex Siciliae ducatus Apuliae et principatus Capuae." The boundaries of the regno were finally fixed by a truce with the pope in October 1144. These lands were for the next seven centuries to constitute the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (768x1024, 280 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (768x1024, 280 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Saracene arches and Byzantine mosaics complement each other within the Palatine Chapel. ... Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... Events Robert Warelwast becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... 22 July is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... Events Alphonso I (Afonso Henriques) becomes first king of Portugal Second Council of the Lateran Births Emperor Konoe of Japan Deaths Henry the Proud, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony Categories: 1139 ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... Events Louis VII capitulates to Pope Celestine II and so earns the popes absolution Pope Celestine II is succeeded by Pope Lucius II December 24 - Edessa falls to Zengi Montauban, France, is founded First recorded example of an anti-Semitic blood libel in England Normandy comes under Angevin control...

Roger had now become one of the greatest kings in Europe. At Palermo Roger drew round him distinguished men of various races, such as the famous Arab geographer Idrisi and the historian Nilus Doxopatrius. The king welcomed the learned and he maintained a complete toleration for the several creeds, races and languages of his realm. He was served by men of nationality so dissimilar as the Englishman Thomas Brun, a kaid of the Curia, and, in the fleet, by the renegade Muslim Christodoulos, and the Antiochene George, whom he made in 1132 "amiratus amiratorum," in effect prime vizier. This title, amiratus or emir, gave way to the English word admiral. Al-Idrisis world map from 1154. ...

Roger made Sicily the leading maritime power in the Mediterranean. A powerful fleet was built up under several admirals, or "emirs," of whom the greatest was George of Antioch, formerly in the service of the Muslim prince of El Mehdia. Mainly by him a series of conquests were made on the African coast (1135-53) which reached from Tripoli to Cape Bona. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... This page refers to Tripoli, the capital of Libya. ...

The Second Crusade (1147-48) offered Roger an opportunity to revive Robert Guiscard's designs on the Byzantine Empire. George was sent to Corinth at the end of 1147 and despatched an army inland which plundered Thebes. In June 1149 the admiral appeared before Constantinople and defied the Byzantine emperor by firing arrows against the palace windows. Yet the attack on the empire had no enduring results. The king died at Palermo on the 26th of February 1154, and was succeeded by his fourth son William. The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe, called in 1145 in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year. ... Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Temple of Apollo at Corinth Corinth, or Korinth (Κόρινθος) is a Greek city, on the Isthmus of Corinth, the original isthmus, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. ... Thebes (in modern Greek: Θήβα - Thíva, in ancient Greek and Katharevousa: - ThÄ“bai or Thívai) is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. ... Map of Constantinople. ... Nickname: Palermu Motto: Official website: http://www. ... William I (d. ...

Roger II's elaborate coronation cloak, later used by the Holy Roman Emperors, is now in the Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer) in Vienna. For a picture and description, see [1] Schatzkammer in German translates as Treasury (Chamber/Vault). ... Vienna (German: Wien [viːn]; Slovenian: Dunaj, Croatian and Serbian: Beč Romanian: Viena, Hungarian: Bécs, Czech: Vídeň, Slovak: Viedeň, Romany Vidnya;) Vienna is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ...

Family

Roger II's first marriage was to Elvira Alfonso of Castile, a daughter of King Alfonso VI of Castile. When she died in 1135, rumors flew that Roger had died as well, as his grief had made him a recluse. Their sons were: Alfonso VI (before June 1040 – July 1, 1109), nicknamed the Brave, was king of León from 1065 to 1109 and king of Castile since 1072 after his brothers death. ...

1. Roger, heir, Duke of Apulia, possibly also Count of Lecce (died May 12,1148)
2. Tancred (died 1143), Prince of Bari
3. Alphonse (died 1144), Prince of Capua
4. William I of Sicily, his successor, Duke of Apulia (died May 7, 1166)

Roger II married secondly to Sibyl of Burgundy, daughter of Hugh II, Duke of Burgundy, but she died a year later in 1150. His third marriage was to Beatrix of Rethel, a grandniece of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem. Beatrix bore him a posthumous daughter, Constance of Sicily. In addition, Roger had several bastard children, one of whom was a daughter who married Margaritone the Admiral, Lord of Malta. Holy Cross church, Lecce Roman Amphitheatre, Lecce Lecce is a small city situated in the south of Italy, in the region of Apulia. ... William I (d. ... cock ... Baldwin of Bourcq (died August 21, 1131) was the second count of Edessa from 1100 to 1118, and the third king of Jerusalem from 1118 until his death. ... Constance of Sicily ( 1154 - November 27, 1198) was in her own right Queen of Sicily, became German Empress as the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, and was the mother of the Emperor and King of Sicily Frederick II. She was the posthumous daughter of Roger II of...

Jolly Roger

In his book Pirates and The Lost Templar Fleet, David Hatcher Childress claims that the term Jolly Roger was coined after the King Roger, the first man to fly the flag. Childress claims that, many years later after the Templars were disbanded by the church, at least one Templar fleet split into four independent fleets that dedicated themselves to pirating ships of any country sympathetic to Rome. The flag was thus an inheritance, and its crossed bones are an obvious reference to the original Templar logo of a red cross with blunted ends. The Jolly Roger is the traditional flag of European and American pirates, envisioned today as a skull over crossed bones (see skull and cross bones), on a black field. ...

Sources

• Matthew, Donald. The Norman Kingdom of Sicily (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks), 1992